Under 'Brand Bengaluru', 50 additional parks are being developed: Official
Bengaluru, May 17 (PTI): Under the 'Brand Bengaluru' initiative, 50 additional parks within the limits of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike are being developed and the rest are being upgraded, a senior official said on Saturday.
Speaking after inaugurating the "Bengaluru Habba" cultural programme held at Bugle Rock Park in the Basavanagudi, Special Commissioner of the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Management, Preeti Gehlot, stated that the BBMP's Horticulture Department is continuously engaged in the maintenance of parks.
"There are 1,287 parks within BBMP limits, all of which are being equipped with seating arrangements for citizens, greenery, fencing, and other amenities. Upgradation work is ongoing across all existing parks. In addition, soak pits (Ingu Gundi) are being constructed in the parks to improve groundwater levels," she said in a statement.
To encourage people to spend more time enjoying the environment, all parks will remain open daily from 5 AM to 10 PM, she said.
She urged residents to help maintain cleanliness in their neighborhood parks and to promote awareness about keeping public spaces clean.
According to the statement, to enhance the park experience for visitors and morning walkers, a unique programme called "Bengaluru Habba" has been launched. It features traditional cultural performances, including Dollu Kunitha (folk drum dance), folk singing, light music, and performances by folk art troupes showcasing the city's heritage and artistic traditions.
"In each of the 27 Assembly constituencies under BBMP's limits, cultural and art-based programmes aimed at promoting children's creativity and public engagement will be conducted in one park per constituency, from now until March 2026," it said.
As part of the "Bengaluru Habba" celebrations, an awareness rally featuring cultural troupes was also organised from Ramakrishna Math Circle to Bugle Rock Park to raise public awareness, the statement added.
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Bill to set up single higher education regulator likely to be tabled in Parliament next week
New Delhi (PTI): A Bill which seeks to set up a single regulator for institutions of higher education is required to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing, officials said.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week after it got the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday.
The proposed legislation, which was earlier christened the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, has now been named Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.
A single higher education regulator, which was proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP), looks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
"The Bill proposes to set up a Higher Education Commission of India to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutes become independent and self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy. It is likely to be introduced (in Parliament) in the coming week," an official said.
While the UGC presently oversees non-technical higher education in the country, the AICTE oversees technical education, while the NCTE is the regulatory body for teachers' education.
The Commission is proposed to be set up as a single higher education regulator, but medical and law colleges will not be brought under its ambit.
It is proposed to have three major roles -- regulation, accreditation and setting professional standards, officials said.
Funding, which is seen as the fourth vertical, is not proposed to be under the regulator so far. The autonomy for funding is proposed to be with the administrative ministry, they said.
